New Jersey Grounds For Divorce

August 25, 2015
By
Edward R. Weinstein

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Divorce proceedings in New Jersey are handled by the Superior Court of
each county (Middlesex, Monmouth, Union, etc) and the procedures and forms
are standard across the state. The process starts by filing a complaint
for divorce. This legal document informs the court that one spouse would
like to divorce the other. When filling out the complaint you must indicate
the grounds (the reason why) on which you would like to divorce. Your
decision could have consequences on how lengthy the divorce process is
and how much work is required to complete it. Your options are grouped
under two major headings: No-fault divorce and Fault based divorce. This
decision can be made with the help of your attorney.

New Jersey No-Fault Divorce

In a no-fault divorce matter, there is no blame placed on either party
of the marriage. The benefit is that you do not need any proof or support
that one spouse was responsible for the marriage ending. No-fault divorces
can be based on irreconcilable differences or separation.

Since becoming an option in 2007, a majority of divorces are filed under
Irreconcilable differences. To file a complaint based on irreconcilable
differences those differences need to have existed for six months or more
and again, caused the demise of the marriage, and you and your spouse
have no chance of getting back together. The benefit of filing under irreconcilable
differences is that there is no residency requirement so couples who choose
to live together (or need to for financial reasons) may do so. Irreconcilable
differences does not require any specific or significant allegations or
accusations be waged removing animosity from the divorce process.

To qualify for separation, the couple has not shared a primary residence
for at least eighteen (18) months and has determined there is no chance
of future reconciliation.

New Jersey Fault Based Divorce

Filing a fault based divorce requires proof and testimony of the grounds
for divorce. These proceedings can be lengthy and divorcing parties should
prepare to spend significant time building a case and presenting it in
court. If you are going to file a fault based divorce, you have to be
specific for the reason. In New Jersey there are several options.

Extreme cruelty N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(c).

You can base your divorce on extreme cruelty if you have suffered psychological,
emotional and/or physical abuse at the hand of your spouse. The abuse
does not to be physical abuse and can include belittling and controlling
behavior. You need to convince the judge that abuse has occurred within
the three months before you filed your complaint and that the cruel actions
are impossible to live with on a daily basis.

Desertion N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(b).

You can file based on desertion if your spouse leaves your marriage for
12 months or more against your wishes and there has been no physical intimacy
during that time. Interesting note that you may still live in the same
house, just no longer as husband and wife.

Addiction, Habitual Drunkeness, drug Habituation N.S.J.A 2A:34-2(e)

This fault claims that the marriage was destroyed due to one partner’s
persistent, habitual and substantial intoxication and addiction for a
period of 12 months prior to the filing of divorce

Imprisonment: N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(g)

If one spouse has been incarcerated for at least 18 months. Divorce can
be filed once the spouse is released and the parties do not live together
after release.

Institutionalization N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(f).

When one spouse suffers from mental illness and has been institutionalized
for a period of 12 or more consecutive months you can file for a divorce
for institutionalization.

Deviant sexual conduct N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(h).

If one spouse engages voluntary in deviant sexual conduct without other
spouse’s consent.

Adultery (infidelity) N.J.S.A. 5:4-2

Here, one partner of the marriage was unfaithful and is defined by the
court as “adultery exists when one spouse rejects the other by entering
into a personal intimate relationship with any other person, irrespective
of the specific sexual acts performed; the rejection of the spouse coupled
with out-of-marriage intimacy constitutes adultery.” When filing
for adultery the name of the paramour must be stated.

In our office we always work with clients to find the absolute best path
of action given their personal circumstances. There are many implications
depending on which grounds for divorce you decide to pursue. You should
explore the legal requirements of proving each scenario and how they relate
to the details of your case. You should discuss these options as well
as the impact on the speed in which your divorce will be handed with an
experienced NJ Divorce Attorney.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.